Open top tub desk structural arrangement



Get. 25, 1966 E. A. DAHL, JR

OPEN TOP TUB DESK STRUCTURAL ARRANGEMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 18, 1964 may/) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 E. A. DAHL, JR

OPEN TOP TUB DESK STRUCTURAL ARRANGEMENT Oct. 25, 1966 Filed Aug. 18, 1964 United States Patent 3,281,196 OPEN T0? TUB DESK STRUiITURAL ARRANGEMENT Ernest A. Dahl, Jr., 729 Greenwood Ave, Wilmette, Ill. Filed Aug. 18, 1964, Ser. No. 390,286 7 Claims. (Cl. 312253) This invention relates to improvements in file card containers and more particularly relates to improvements in the structural arrangement of an open top tub desk or filing container for holding trays of file cards.

The tub desks to which the invention relates are generally well known and include a tub-like portion adapted to receive trays of file cards and to hold them at a comfortable desk height for easy reference by a file clerk.

One problem with conventional tub desks has been that they could not be readily adapted for use with file cards of different heights. As a result where filing cards of a more or less than average height have been used, a file clerk seated beside the tub desk has been required to reach down into the tray for shorter cards; or to reach up more than usual to secure a relatively taller file card. This reaching up or down where taller or shorter cards were used slowed the clerks filing and refiling and fatigued the clerk unduly.

This invention relates to an improved tub desk or desk height file container to solve this problem of different file card heights.

Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved structural arrangement (for a tub desk or file container to accommodate filing trays holding cards of different heights so as to maintain the top edges of the filing cards therein at a uniform height.

Another object of the invention is to provide one basic tub desk structural arrangement to permit use of the same unit with filing trays for cards of different heights wherein the tub desk may be quickly rearranged to accommodate the different sizes of the file cards.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a tub desk for file trays with means for quickly adjusting the bottom panel of the unit to accommodate file trays holding cards of different heights.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tub desk having an improved structural arrangement which is economical to manufacture and which has identical basic components which may be shipped to the user in disassembled form and may be readily assembled by the user to accommodate a particular size tray of file cards.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and drawings of the invention wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective viewof an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view partially in section of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cutaway perspective view in section showing the specific structural arrangement of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the lines 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a modified form of the invention.

Referring now in detail to the drawings and specifically to FIG. 1, an open top tub desk or file container to hold trays of file cards is designated generally by the numeral and will be seen to include a pair of ends or support legs 12 and a tub-like portion 14 adapted to hold trays of file cards.

The ends or support legs 12 are seen to be relatively "ice fiat end panels with an upright channel-shaped end support bracket 16 secured to an inner portion 18 of each of the ends for supporting reinforcement of a rectangular bottom panel 20, FIG. 2.

The tub desk includes a pair of spaced sides 22 secured between the ends with the bottom panel or platform 20 supported from the sides. A plurality of file trays 24 holding file cards 26 are supported over the bottom panel as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. A desk top panel 27 is provided conventionally for use as a writing or working surface and is supported conventionally between the sides of the tub desk. Locking means designated generally by the numeral 28 may be provided to lock the desk top panel to the tub desk sides to safeguard the file cards after a days use.

The two sides 22 of the tub desk each comprise hollow panels as best seen in FIG. 3. Each panel has an outer portion 30 and an inner portion 32. The inner portions each have a plurality of laterally spaced columns of horizontally extending, vertically spaced rectangular openings or slots 34 for receipt of bottom panel support means to be hereafter described.

The bottom panel 20 of the tub desk FIG. 3 fits between the sides and ends of the tub desk and includes a substantially fiat horizontally extending, central portion 36 upon which the trays of cards rest; a pair of horizontally extending lateral flanges 38 adjacent the inner portion of the sides; and a pair of substantially vertical upwardly directed end flanges 40 adapted to be secured to the end support brackets 16 for supporting reinforcement of the bottom.

In accordance with an important feature of the in vention, bottom panel support means are provided comprising two longitudinally extending generally horizontally positioned L-shaped angle irons 42 to support the two lateral flanges 38 of the bottom panel. Each of the L-shaped angle irons has a substantially horizontal inwardly directed flange 44, to which one of the bottom panel flanges is secured, as by welding; and each angle iron has an upwardly extending generally rectangular plate or leg 46.

The leg 46 is uniquely adapted [for attachment to the side of the tub desk by a plurality of integral horizontally extending laterally spaced struck out portions or outwardly and downwardly directed tongues 48 which are spaced complementally to the slots 34 and are adapted to fit within the slots to support the bottom panel from the sides.

The struck out portions 48 each have an inverted L- shaped configuration with an outwardly directed web and a generally rectangular downwardly directed portion which is relatively smaller in size than an opening 34 so as to fit easily within a particular opening. The outwardly directed web of the struck out portions extends outwardly from the main portion of the legs a distance slightly greater than the thickness of the tub desk panel adjacent the rectangular openings 34 so that after positioning the downwardly directed portions of the tongues in predetermined panel openings on one :side of the tub desk, the tongue slips down easily into supporting engagement with a lower horizontally extending edge of a rectangular opening.

As should be apparent, by reason of the improved structural arrangement provided, it is a relatively simple matter to position the bottom panel initially or to adjust the bottom panel vertically upwardly or downwardly to accommodate trays holding relatively taller or shorter cards. One of the two sides of the tub desk is merely tilted outwardly away from the other side, the tongues on one side of the bottom panel are set in the desired rectangular openings in the first side, and then the other 3 side of the tub desk is similarly tilted outwardly and the tongues on that side of the bottom panel are set in place.

In accordance with another important feature of the invention, bottom panel support and reinforcement means are provided comprising the upright channel-shaped end support brackets 16 to which the bottom panel end flanges are secured to support the bottom panel on its ends as well as its sides and to reinforce the tub desk unit by tying in the bottom panel to the ends as well as the sides.

Each of the end support brackets 16 has an inner face 52 with a plurality of vertically spaced openings 50 therein positioned in line with a complementary opening 54 in the vertical flange 40 of the bottom panel for receipt of suitable locking means to secure the bottom panel to the end support bracket when the tongues are properly positioned within the slots.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 5 where like parts are identified by like numerals with the addition of the sufiix a, the bottom panel 20a is provided with two sides 56, extending downwardly from the horizontal flanges 38a to a substantially flat horizontally extending bottom 36a to support file card trays holding cards of substantially greater depth. The bottom panel includes a pair of ends or end flanges 40a secured between the bottom 36a and the sides 56 and adapted for attachment to the end support brackets 16a.

Having now described the invention, its manner of operation should be clear; however, for a clearer understanding of the invention, it will now be described without numerical reference.

Where it is desired to use a tub desk formerly holding file cards of a certain size to hold relatively shorter or higher cards with the tops of the cards maintained at about the same elevation for accessibility in the filing operation, it is a relatively simple matter to do so by merely adjusting the tongue of the L-shaped bottom panel support means vertically upwardly or downwardly in the slots provided in the side of the tub desk. The end flanges of the bottom panel are detached from the end support brackets, the end panels or support legs of the tub desk are loosened and the tongues are repositioned as desired in the appropriate slots with subsequent securement of the end flanges to the end support bracket and of the end panels to the sides.

Where it is desired to accommodate filing trays holding filing cards of substantially greater depth, the modified bottom panel illustrated in FIG. 5 is utilized. In the modified bottom panel additional depth is provided for the accommodation of trays holding file cards of a substantially greater height. While two embodiments of the invention have been illustrated in the various figures, it is clear that other modifications may be made. Hence, it is contemplated by the appended claims to cover any modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. In an open top container to hold filing card trays of a predetermined height in position with the top edges of the filing cards at about the same elevation, said container including a pair of spaced ends, a pair of spaced sides secured between the ends and a bottom supported between the sides, the improvement comprising: a pair of longitudinal substantially vertical end flanges on said bottom, one on either end of said bottom, said flanges each having an opening therein, said opening being at about the longitudinal center of said flanges; an upright channel-shaped end support bracket secured to an inner portion of said ends, said bracket having an inner face with a plurality of vertically spaced openings therein, complementary to the flange opening, locking means extending through said flange opening and a predetermined bracket opening to secure the bottom to the support bracket; two longitudinally extending horizontally positioned L-shaped angle irons, said angle irons each having a substantially horizontal inwardly directed flange supporting the bottom along opposite edges, said angle irons each having an upwardly extending plate, said plate having a plurality of laterally spaced tongues of inverted L- shaped configuration with an outwardly directed web and a generally rectangular downwardly directed portion; and a plurality of laterally and vertically spaced openings in said sides, said lateral spacing being the same as the spacing between said tongues, said openings being relatively larger than the downwardly directed portion of said tongues, said tongues fitting within said openings and supporting said bottom dependingly from said sides.

2. A container assembly for supporting trays of file cards including: upstanding side means, platform means for supporting the trays of file cards, a pair of support members fastened to said upstanding side means, and connection means for fastening said platform means to said support members at a selected one of a plurality of predetermined levels, said support members being movable relative to each other for releasing said connection means to enable said platform means to be moved relative to said support members from a first predetermined level to a second predetermined level.

3. An assembly as set forth in claim 2, further including a panel member mounted above the trays on said upstanding side means, said panel member being used as a supporting surface.

4. An assembly as set fort-h in claim 2, further includ ing a support bracket fixedly mounted on said upstanding side means and a second connection means for releasably fastening said platform means to said support bracket to prevent movement of said platform means relative to said side means.

5. An assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said connection means includes a plurality of vertically spaced aperture means in said support members and a plurality of L-shaped tongue members connected to said platform means for engaging said aperture means.

6. A container assembly including: wall means defining an open end of the container, first and sec-0nd spaced-apart support members suspended from said wall means, a bottom member for supporting receptacles containing file cards, and connection means fastened to said bottom member for engaging said support members at a selected one of a plurality of predetermined levels, said support members being pivotable outwardly relative to each other for releasing said connection means to enable said bottom member to be moved relative to said support members for positioning an upper edge of the file cards adjacent to said open end of the container.

7. An assembly as set forth in claim 6, further including a working surface supported by said wall means adjacent to the upper edge of the file cards.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/1928 Hadi 312-306'X 3/1958 Morgan 312-451 FOREIGN PATENTS 880,618 10/ 1961 Great Britain. 

1. IN AN OPEN TOP CONTAINER TO HOLD FILLING CARD TRAYS OF A PREDETERMINED HEIGHT IN POSITION WITH THE TOP EDGES OF THE FILING CARDS AT ABOUT THE SAME ELEVATION, SAID CONTAINER INCLUDING A PAIR OF SPACED ENDS, A PAIR OF SPACED SIDES SECURED BETWEEN THE ENDS AND A BOTTOM SUPPORTED BETWEEN THE SIDES, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING: A PAIR OF LONGITUDINAL SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL END FLANGES ON SAID BOTTOM, ONE ON EITHER END OF SAID BOTTOM, SAID FLANGES EACH HAVING AN OPENING THEREIN, SAID OPENING BEING AT ABOUT THE LONGITUDINAL CENTER OF SAID FLANGES; AN UPRIGHT CHANNEL-SHAPED END SUPPORT BRACKET SECURED TO AN INNER PORTION OF SAID ENDS, SAID BRACKET HAVING AN INNER FACE WITH A PLURALITY OF VERTICALLY SPACED OPENINGS THEREIN, COMPLEMENTARY TO THE FLANGE OPENING, LOCKING MEANS EXTENDING THROUGH SAID FLANGE OPENING AND A PREDETERMINED BRACKET OPENING TO SECURE THE BOTTOM TO THE SUPPORT BRACKET; TWO LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING HORIZONTALLY POSIDTIONED L-SHAPED ANGLE IRONS, SAID ANGLE IRONS EACH HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL INWARDLY DIRECTED FLANGE SUPPORTING THE BOTTOM ALONG OPPOSITE EDGES, SAID ANGLE IRONS EACH HAVING AN UPWARDLY EXTENDING PLATE, SAID PLATE HAVING A PLURALITY OF LATERALLY SPACED TONGUES OF INVERTED LSHAPED CONFIGURATION WITH AN OUTWARDLY DIRECTED WEB AND A GENERALLY RECTANGULAR DOWNWARDLY DIRECTED PORTION; AND A PLURALITY OF LATERALLY AND VERTICALLY SPACED OPENINGS IN SAID SIDES, SAID LATERAL SPACING BEING THE SAME AS THE SPACING BETWEEN SAID TONGUES, SAID OPENINGS BEING RELATIVELY LARGER THAN THE DOWNWARDLY DIRECTED PORTION OF SAID TONGUES, SAID TONGUES FITTING WITHIN SAID OPENINGS AND SUPPORTING SAID BOTTOM DEPENDINGLY FROM SAID SIDES. 